Council Urges Residents to Get Measles Vaccinations Up-to-Date

At their last meeting, Council passed an advocacy-based motion encouraging residents to ensure they have their measles vaccinations. This motion comes after the Pan American Health Organization notified the Public Health Agency of Canada that Canada has lost its measles elimination status due to sustained transmission over more than one year. According to Ontario Public Health, Between 2013 and 2023, Ontario reported a total of 101 measles cases. In 2025 alone, there were 2,395 reported measles cases in the province. While local data from Southeast Public Health indicates higher vaccination rates in the KFL&A region, the motion was brought forward with the concern of overall declining vaccination rates, vaccine misinformation, and the disruption of routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The motion was carried with a vote of 12-1, with the sole opposing vote coming from Councillor Gary Oosterhof.